Sugar Cane Accessory Item

ABSTRACT

The invention pertains to the field of sugar cane. More particularly, the invention pertains to efficiently utilizing a sugar cane product for multiple accessory items (i.e. shot glass, drinking glass, straw, stirrer, decorative element, etc.). The sugar cane accessory item includes a stalk of sugar cane that is billeted and utilized as a food accessory item, wherein the sugar cane stalk may include at least one opening extending within the billeted section of sugar cane if utilized as a shot glass, drinking glass and/or straw. The stalk may also be billeted and comprised of a solid structure to be utilized as a pair of chopsticks, a stirrer, a shish kabob utensil or various other food accessory items. A method of manufacturing the sugar cane accessory item is also disclosed.

REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

Not Applicable.

ACKNOWLEDGE OF GOVERNMENT SUPPORT

Not Applicable.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The invention pertains to the field of sugar cane stalks. Moreparticularly, the invention pertains to efficiently utilizing a sugarcane product for multiple accessory items (i.e. shot glass, drinkingglass, straw, stirrer, decorative element, etc.).

2. Description of Related Art

Sugar cane has been utilized for years in the manufacturing of sugarrelated products. Sugar cane generally consists of a grass includingstout and fibrous stalks that are rich in sugar and generally measurebetween 2 and 6 meters tall. Sugar cane is generally grown in warmclimate areas of the planet and for that reason is generally associatedwith a tropical or warm feeling around individuals utilizing or beingaround sugar cane.

many people travel to and live in warm climate areas (i.e. tropics,Caribbean, etc.) year round. It is generally appreciated that each ofthese climatic areas have their own or shares a unique culture which isgenerally displayed through living arrangements, food arrangements,specialty meals, decorative themes and many other fashions. The stalk ofthe sugar cane has not however been integrated into many of these areaseven though the stalk of the sugar cane has not however been integratedinto many of these areas even though the stalk of the sugar cane isgenerally associated with warm and tropical climates that wouldotherwise provide the utilization of sugar cane to attract tourist andlocals. Because of the general lack of efficiency in the prior art,there is a need for a new and improved sugar cane accessory item forefficiently utilizing a sugar cane product for multiple accessory items(i.e. shot glass, drinking glass, straw, stirrer, decorative element,etc.).

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

According to the present invention described herein, a sugar caneaccessory item, the present invention comprises a stalk of sugar canethat is utilized as a food accessory item, wherein the sugar cane stalkmay be billeted and include at least one opening extending within thebilleted section of sugar cane if utilized as a shot glass, drinkingglass and/or straw. The stalk may also be billeted and comprised of asolid structure to be utilized as a pair of chopsticks, a stirrer, ashish kabob utensil or various other food accessory items.

A first object of the present invention is for efficiently utilizing asugar cane product for multiple accessory items (i.e. shot glass,drinking glass, straw, stirrer, decorative element, etc.).

Another object of the present invention is for illustrating a process inwhich to manufacture the multiple accessory items.

Yet, another object of the present invention is for personalizing asugar cane product that may be subsequently utilized as an accessoryitem.

A further object of the present invention is for economicallymanufacturing and utilizing a sugar cane product for various accessoryitems.

A further object of the present invention is for utilizing anenvironmentally friendly food and drink accessory item.

The foregoing and other objects of the present invention will becomeapparent to those skilled in the art from the following detaileddescription and corresponding drawings.

It is appreciated that the present invention is not limited to theconstruction and configuration listed herein.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is an upper perspective view of the present invention comprisedof a straw.

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is an upper perspective view of the present invention comprisedof a shot glass.

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of FIG. 3.

FIG. 5 is an upper perspective view of the present invention comprisedas a straw and a drinking glass, wherein the straw is being utilizedwith the drinking glass.

FIG. 6 is an upper perspective view of the present invention billetedwith 2 of the longitudinal sides squared.

FIG. 7 is an upper perspective view of the present invention utilized asa decorative element upon a plate.

FIG. 8 is an upper perspective view of the present invention cut in atriangular configuration and including personalized indicia.

FIG. 9 is an upper perspective view of the present invention cut to arectangular configuration.

FIG. 10 is a top view illustrating the process of billeting the stalksof sugar cane.

FIG. 11 is a top view illustrating the process of billeting the stalksof sugar cane with the blades adjusted to produce various lengthbillets.

FIG. 12 is a side view illustrating the process of boring the openingswith the billets of sugar cane with a drill.

FIG. 13 is a top view illustrating the process of squaring the billetsupon a second conveyor.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION A. Overview

In accordance with the present invention, the sugar cane accessory item10, as shown in FIGS. 1 through 13, generally includes a stalk 20 ofsugar cane that is utilized as a food accessory item, wherein the cutstalk 20 may include at least one opening if utilized as a shot glass,drinking straw and/or straw. The stalk may also be comprised of a solidstructure to be utilized as a pair of chopsticks, a stirrer, a shishkabob utensil and/or various other food accessory items. A method ofproducing the sugar cane accessory item 10 is also disclosed.

B. Sugar Cane

The sugar cane is preferably comprised of sugar cane that is in the rawform or uncooked form. The billet 30, wherein the cut stalk 20 is hereinand previously referred to as the billet 30, is preferably comprised ofa length of at least 1 inch and no more than 16 inches. It isappreciated however that in certain circumstances the billet 30 may becomprised of various lengths greater than 16 inches and/or less than 1inch. The billet 30 and present invention are preferably comprised of aproduct comprised completely of sugar cane and does not utilize anyforeign materials (i.e. plastic, metal, etc.). it is appreciated howeverthat the present invention may be adorned by various decorative productsthat are comprised of materials other than sugar cane.

i. Shot Glass, Drinking Glass, Straw, etc.

The billet 30 may be comprised of various shapes and configurationsdepending on the current utilization of the present invention. In afirst category of the present invention, the billet 30 is preferablycomprised of a shot glass or drinking glass as illustrated in FIGS. 3through 5. The billet 30 preferably includes an outer covering 35 and aninner portion 36.

The outer covering 35 is preferably comprised of the natural outercovering 35 of the stalk 20 of the sugar cane. The inner portion 36 ispreferably comprised of the natural inner portion 36 of the stalk 20 ofthe sugar cane. The outer covering 35 and the inner portion 36 aregenerally comprised of different substances; however it is appreciatedthat the outer covering 35 and the inner portion 36 may be integrallyformed to be a single substance. The billet 30 may also include variousindicia 39 upon the outer covering 35 or inner portion 36 as illustratedin FIG. 8 so as to personalize the present invention and/or include acompany logo/trademark upon the present invention.

The first category of the present invention includes the first opening32 extending within the inner portion 36 of the billet 30. The firstopening 32 preferably extends within the billet 30 and along alongitudinal axis of the billet 30. The first opening 32 is alsopreferably concentric with the billet 30. It is appreciated however thatthe first opening 32 may extend within the billet 30 at a transverseorientation and may also extend within the billet 30 at an offsetorientation. When utilizing the billet 30 as a drinking glass or shotglass, the billet includes a base portion 37 opposite the first opening32 as illustrated in FIG. 4.

When utilizing the billet 30 as a straw or in a tubular manner, thebillet 30 also preferably includes a second opening 33 positionedopposite the first opening 32 upon the billet 30. The second opening 33preferably extends within an opposing end of the billet 30 as the firstopening 32 and also interconnects with the first opening 32. It isappreciated that when utilizing the billet 30 as a shot glass, drinkingglass and/or straw the first opening 32 and/or the second opening 33 maycompletely extend and fill out the inner portion 36 thus resulting withonly the outer covering 35 of the billet 30. The second opening 33 isalso preferably concentric with the billet 30.

It is also appreciated that the outer covering 35 may be removed fromthe billet 30 prior to the usage of the shot glass, drinking glassand/or straw, wherein the outer portion of the billet 30 does notinclude the normal outer covering 35. It is further appreciated that thebillet 30 may be comprised of various other food and drink accessoryitems such as but not limited to a martini shaker.

ii. Chop Sticks, Stirrers, etc.

In a second category of the billet 30′, the billet 30′ is preferablycomprised of a substantially solid structure. The billet 30′ preferablyincludes the outer covering 35 and the inner portion 36 as described inthe first category of the billet 30′. The billet 30′ may be comprised ofvarious solid shaped structures and may be utilized as various food anddrink accessory item, such as but not limited to a stirrer, a shishkabob utensil, a shrimp kabob utensil, a pair of chopsticks, adecorative plate 16 element as illustrated in FIG. 7 to adorn a foodsubstance 14 or simply a food item to eat.

The billet 30′ is preferably comprised of an elongated configuration asillustrated in FIGS. 6 through 9. The billet 30′ may also be comprisedof various shaped configurations, such as but not limited to triangularas illustrated in FIG. 8, square as illustrated in FIG. 9, pie-shaped,circular or semi circular. The squared configuration of the billet 30′may be comprised of various cross-sectional areas, such as but notlimited to ⅛″, ¼″, ½″, ¾″, and 1″. The pie-shaped configuration of thebillet 30′ may be sliced to various triangular shaped configurations. Invarious other configurations, the billet may be further cut tosubstantially flat rectangular configurations.

It is appreciated that the present invention may be utilized as variousother food and drink accessory items, wherein the above descriptionsimply illustrates a few configurations of the present invention andwherein it is the object of the present invention to utilize a sugarcane billet 30′ as an accessory item. It is also appreciated that thebillet 30′ may be utilized as various other accessory items, rather thansolely a food and drink accessory item, such as but not limited to aclothing accessory item or a piece of jewelry.

C. Method of Producing the Present Invention

It is appreciated that the present invention may be manufacturedutilizing various methods or processes. Below is described one suchmethod of manufacturing the present invention; however it is appreciatedthat the present invention should not be limited to utilizing thedescribed method.

The first conveyor unit 40 is first preferably fed fresh stalks 20 ofsugar cane to convey the stalks 20 toward a plurality of first blades 41as illustrated in FIGS. 10 and 11. It is appreciated that the presentinvention may also include a plurality of abrasive cleaning blades,wherein the abrasive cleaning blades include an abrasive member (i.e.file, stiff brushes, etc.) to substantially remove the rind from thestalks 20, via grinding, as the stalks 20 are fed into the abrasivecleaning blades by the first conveyor unit 40. The stalks 20 arepreferably fed at a substantially fast rate towards the plurality offirst blades 41 by the first conveyor unit 40 (i.e. 60 lbs per minute, 5stalks 20 a second, etc.). In the preferred embodiment of the presentinvention, the first conveyor unit 40 preferably includes 4 first blades41 positioned upon 2 shafts 42, wherein the 2 shafts are preferablyrotated by a motor 43.

The first blades 41 are also preferably comprised of circular blades andmay further be independently adjusted upon the corresponding shaft 42 tocut a desired length billet 30 of the stalks 20 of sugar cane asillustrated in FIGS. 10 and 11. The first blades 41 may cut the stalkinto various length billets 30, wherein the billets 30 preferably rangebetween 4 and 16 inches in length. The first blades 41 may also beindependently removed from the respective shaft 42 to achieve a longerbillet 30.

The first conveyor unit 40 may also include a boring mechanism 60 topunch or drill an opening 32, 33 within the billet 30. The boringmechanism 60 may be comprised of various configurations, such as but notlimited to a drill as illustrated in FIG. 12, a laser, high-pressurewater or a punch. It is appreciated that the boring mechanism 60 mayalso be operated by an individual rather than being mounted upon thefirst conveyor unit 40. The boring mechanism 60 may further be utilizedat various other stages in the process of manufacturing the presentinvention, such as after washing the billets 30 or after the billets 30have been processed through the second conveyor unit 45.

It is also appreciated that the billets 30 may also be quartered orhalved after the stalks 20 have been cut into the desired length billets30. The stalks 20 may also be bored prior to billeting the stalks 20. Inthe preferred embodiment of the present invention, the opening 32, 33formed by the boring mechanism 60 is preferably between ⅛″ and 2″;however it is appreciated that the opening 32, 33 may be various sizesrather than the preferred embodiment.

The billets 30 are next preferably fed within a washing device. Thewashing device may be comprised of various configurations, such as butnot limited to a rotary drum washer. The washing device may also beinclined in such a way as to allow the billets 30 to travel through thewashing device as the washing device rotates. The washing device alsopreferably includes an abrasive material lining the interior surface ofthe washing device to engage the billets 30. The abrasive material maybe comprised of various configurations, such as but not limited to greenscrub pads, pieces of carpet, granular materials, walnut shells andmacadamia nut shells.

As the washing device rotates, the washing device preferably dips withina hot cleaning fluid bath. The cleaning fluid may be comprised ofvarious fluids, such as but not limited to water. The billet 30 travelsthrough the washing device and subsequently cleans the outer covering 35of the billet 30 of any debris, nodes, wax and dirt.

Preferably after the billets 30 travel through the washing device, thebillets 30 engage a second conveyor unit 45. The second conveyor unitpreferably aligns the billets 30 into a single file configuration asillustrated in FIG. 13. The second conveyor unit also preferablyincludes a plurality of second blades 46, wherein the plurality ofsecond blades 46 may be comprised of various configurations, such as butnot limited to circular blades or knives.

The second blades 46 are preferably spaced slightly apart so as tosplice the billets 30. In a preferred embodiment of the presentinvention the second blades 46 are spaced ¼″ apart. It is appreciatedthat the second blades 46 may include various spacers to maintain adesired distance between the second blades 46. As the billets 30 passthrough the second blades 46 the billets 30 are preferably cut into flatand substantially rectangular billets 30′ as illustrated in FIGS. 6 and7. It is appreciated that the billets 30 may not pass through the secondblades 46 if it is desired that the billets 30 are to be maintained in acylindrical shaped configuration (i.e. in the use of the shot glass,drinking glass, straw etc.).

The billets 30′ may subsequently enter a third conveyor unit or reenterthe second conveyor unit 45 to further cut the billet 30′ into a morepreferred rectangular configuration as illustrated in FIG. 9. It isappreciated that the billets 30′ may also be bored with the boringmechanism 60 after the second conveyor unit 45 and/or the third conveyorunit. The billets 30′ may be subsequently sorted, weighed, and counted,wherein the billets 30′ may be packaged within a vacuum sealed containerto be shipped or delivered to a consumer/distributor. It is appreciatedthat the billets 30′ may also be branded with various indicia 39 at thistime. The containers including the billets 30, 30′ may be comprised ofvarious configurations, such as but not limited to plastic pouches,glass bottles or cans.

The containers may also be sterilized, wherein the billets 30 areensured to be clean when being utilized as a food and/or drink accessoryitem. The sterilization process may be achieved in various methods, suchas but not limited to boiling the containers within water. Thecontainers may also be labeled with any desired markings, such as paperlabels, plastic labels, control numbers, control codes, RFID tags, andvarious other markings.

It is appreciated that the first conveyor unit 40, the second conveyorunit 45 and the third conveyor unit may be comprised of variousconveying mechanisms. In the preferred embodiment of the presentinvention the conveying units 40, 45 are preferably comprised of asponge type material with spikes driven through the sponge type materialto better grasp the stalks 20 and billets 30 of the sugar cane.

Accordingly, it is to be understood that the embodiments of theinvention herein described are merely illustrative of the application ofthe principles of the invention. Reference herein to details of theillustrated embodiments is not intended to limit the scope of theclaims, which themselves recite those features regarded as essential tothe invention.

1. A sugar cane accessory item, comprising: a billet including at leastone opening, wherein said opening extends within said billet and whereinsaid at least one opening extends along a longitudinal axis of saidbillet; wherein said billet includes an inner portion, wherein said atleast one opening extends within said inner portion; wherein said billetis comprised of a cut stalk of sugar cane.
 2. A sugar cane accessoryitem of claim 1, wherein said at least one opening extends a substantiallongitudinal length within said billet.
 3. A sugar cane accessory itemof claim 1, wherein said at least one opening does not extend throughsaid billet.
 4. A sugar cane accessory item of claim 1, wherein said atleast one opening is substantially concentric with said billet.
 5. Asugar cane accessory item of claim 1, wherein said billet is between 1inch and 16 inches in length.
 6. A sugar cane accessory item of claim 1,wherein said at least one opening includes a first opening and a secondopening, wherein said first opening and said second opening extendwithin opposing ends of said billet.
 7. A sugar cane accessory item ofclaim 6, wherein said first opening and said second opening areconcentric with each other.
 8. A sugar cane accessory item of claim 6,wherein said first opening and said second opening interconnect withinsaid billet.
 9. A sugar cane accessory item of claim 1, wherein saidbillet includes an outer covering comprised of a first substance,wherein said inner portion is comprised of a second substance andwherein said first substance is different than said second substance.10. A sugar cane accessory item of claim 9, wherein said outer coveringcircumscribes said at least one opening.
 11. A sugar cane accessory itemof claim 1, wherein said billet is comprised of a shot glassconfiguration.
 12. A sugar cane accessory item of claim 1, wherein saidbillet is comprised of a drinking glass configuration.
 13. A sugar caneaccessory item of claim 1, wherein said billet is comprised of a strawconfiguration.
 14. A sugar cane accessory item, comprising: a billetincluding an outer covering and an inner portion, wherein said outercovering is comprised of a first substance and wherein said innerportion is comprised of a second substance; wherein said first substanceis different than said second substance; wherein said billet includes atleast one side, wherein said at least one side is comprised of asubstantially flat configuration; wherein said billet is comprised of acut stalk of sugar cane.
 15. A sugar cane accessory item of claim 14,wherein said at least one side follows a longitudinal axis of saidbillet.
 16. A sugar cane accessory item of claim 14, wherein said billetis between 1 inch and 16 inches in length.
 17. A sugar cane accessoryitem of claim 14, wherein said billet is comprised of a triangularshaped configuration.
 18. A sugar cane accessory item of claim 14,wherein said billet is comprised of a rectangular shaped configuration.19. A sugar cane accessory item, comprising: a billet including at leastone opening, wherein said opening extends within said billet and whereinsaid at least one opening extends along a longitudinal axis of saidbillet; wherein said billet includes an inner portion, wherein said atleast one opening extends within said inner portion; wherein said billetis comprised of a cut stalk of sugar cane; wherein said at least oneopening extends a substantial longitudinal length within said billet andwherein said at least one opening is substantially concentric with saidbillet; wherein said billet is between 1 inch and 16 inches in length;wherein said billet includes an outer covering comprised of a firstsubstance, wherein said inner portion is comprised of a second substanceand wherein said first substance is different than said secondsubstance; wherein said outer covering circumscribes said at least oneopening.
 20. A sugar cane accessory item of claim 19, wherein said atleast one opening includes a first opening and a second opening, whereinsaid first opening and said second opening extends within opposing endsof said billet, wherein said first opening and said second opening areconcentric with each other and wherein said first opening and saidsecond opening interconnect within said billet.